Yeah… that’s me… a happy Gooner rolling in transfers. What a bloody day eh?! The best day since time began? Or maybe just the best summer in 5 years? Either way, all the right things began to happen yesterday!

Now, there was obviously disappointment yesterday morning when everyone thought I was telling lies about Yann M’Vila, but then later that day, the backpage of the Evening Standard ran the story pretty much word for word and The Times are reporting the same this morning. Now, they’ve either got someone telling them the same things, or they’ve got a penchant for a daily dose of Le Grove. Either outcome is pleasing. Like I said yesterday, watch this space. We could easily spend £60million today and not bat an eye lid.

Simple fact is, Alex Song not the one and he’ll be off next summer. Frimpong is a very good prospect, but he needs guidance. Whichever way you look at it, we need a defensive midfielder today. We’re desperately short in the middle.

Defence…

We landed Per Mertesacker yesterday after he completed a medical. Andre Santos was also doing the same. There were a few articles floating about online that stated he’d changed his mind and flown back to Turkey to sign a 4 year deal. I’d be very surprised if that were the case!

Per Mertesacker was a massive curve ball yesterday, but ultimately a fantastic one. He’s a player we’ve been calling for on Le Grove since before June 2008. We reported that he was a Gooner way back then here, 3 years on, whaddya know, he’s going to be turning out at the home of football!

He’s 6ft6, he’s built powerfully, he has 70+ caps for a very solid German team, he’s won trophies, he has Champions League experience and he knows how to defend. Rumour has it we’ve picked him up for £9million. What a price!

This is the sort of player we should always be in for. He has pedigree, he has presence and he’ll slot in perfectly next to Thomas Vermaelen. We have a genuine little and large combination. We have a defender who has played the highline for club and country and we’ve done something crazy… signed a tall player to deal with our fear of high flying balls!

Sacrebleu! <- Does that mean what I think it does?

I’m very pleased.

Park Chu-Young signed for us officially yesterday. The South Korean captain joins us under a cloud of ‘who the f**k’, but the key point here is versatility and hard word. Mainly hard work though. Arshavin and Rosicky showed at the weekend that they’re not cut out for Arsenal when crunch time comes. We need someone who is going to work for their salary, this guy will. Does he have the required quality? I’m not sure… but if he can bag 12 goals for a relegated Monaco, I’d hope for something similar or better for a team capable of teeing him up with far more chances.

Oh, and he takes the number 9 shirt. You knew that already though, right?

Clint Dempsey…

There are big rumours we’re looking to add the American to our attacking line up. Whilst he’s not world-class, he’s a very good player with a superb eye for goal. He has that aggravation factor and a terrific work rate. You don’t need all your players to be La Masia schooled. Sometimes you just need a player who is direct, in your face and not afraid to ruffle a few feathers. He scored 14 goals for Fulham last year and he was very impressive. I’d welcome him into our squad and word on the South American street is that we’ve tabled a $16.8million bid for him.

Gary Cahill…

Have Bolton burned their bridges in negotiations for a player they’ll lose on a free if they don’t get rid of him today? We’ve signed a centre back already. That puts the pressure on Gartside’s hugely indebted club to do a deal today. I think we’re still in for him. Johann Djourrou has been so bad over the past 6 months, you wonder for his future. Cahill is still a top defender and regardless of how many people tell you he’s rubbish, he’s not, he’d make a great addition to the squad.

I still remember how many people told me Ashley Young wasn’t Arsenal quality… some statement eh?

Chris Samba…

There were a lot of rumblings about the shower bully from Blackburn. I have my doubts. The rumours feel more like stories designed to get him a move away from Steve Kean. He’d be a useful addition, but we’ve already filled the role of ‘massive beast’, if we get another centre back, they’ll be good on the ground and stylish… Like a break dancer.

The creative hole?

There’s a massive hole in our side, that’s the one left by Cesc Fabregas. If there’s going to be a monster signing today, I’d love it to come there. Yossi looks like he’s off to Spurs, so good luck to him, quality player, poor injury record. That leaves us with the prospect of Gotze or Hazard. There will probably be another curve ball thrown there, but I’m struggling to see where it’s coming from. The German might be pulled away from his club for £35million and a massive salary, I’m not sure though, it would be a bad move for Dortmund but I guess it depends on how much they want the cash. They’re not flush!

My money is on Arteta. Like Yossi, top quality, just not so much on the fitness side of things. I’d also be interested in Frank Ribery. He was once a £60million player, then his mates bought him a 17 year old hooker, now he’s not quite as popular. He’d be amazing in the Premiership. He’d replace Nasri perfectly. Could we move for him? I’d love it… who knows! Sky are reporting that Honda is in London for a medical… it’s all too much!

Medical…

I was told that two medicals were booked yesterday, two more for today. Make of that what you will!

Conclusion

It’s a shame it took an absolute spanking to push the board and Arsene Wenger into some serious action. Nearly all of this business could have been conducted in June. I don’t believe all these players have been targets all summer, we’ve just shown intent and made things happen because careers are on the line.

Still, that’s a story for another day.

We’re developing a strong core to the team now. We could make top 4 if we make 2-3 signings of intent again today. Amazing how quickly things can change eh? The squad will be revitalised and fans will be excited for the Swansea game. A morale booster for everyone!

My worry though, is that we’re once again in a transition year. This sort of frenzied 48 hours should never have happened and if we’d made purchases like this 2 years ago, who knows who’d still be here fighting it out in the first team.

Anyway, it’s the last day of transfer rumours. There won’t be a live blog, the comments section will going mental all day, tune in, you can get far more info than 140 characters into a comment and all the stories will come direct to you all day from the Grovers! Life is very exciting!

P.S. For some further reading and listening, check out Tim Payton in the Independent talking business models(I’m not talking topless Staples Girls) and the Footy Shows Podcast starring king of AKB’s, Bob Wilson!

What is it with these ‘sports journalists’, I use the term journalist loosely as ‘lazy hacks’ is more appropriate. They can tap up the phones of murdered children and grieving parents but cannot hack into the agents and club phones.

Othello, I get a bit like that when we lose 8-2 and our manager fucks off to line his own pockets, again.

So you want me to get excited about a £5million Monaco Korean eh?

The fucking twat should have been doing this all in June, not the day before the window is closing, and don’t even get me on why we gave Cesc away in August when he has three years left on his contract.

I’m glad you are positive though, you must be easy to please, me I’m a boring cunt. Obviously.

Never said he wasn’t a good signing. I said none of the players we’ve signed are world-class, and I stand by it. I don’t consider Per Mertesecker, Andre Santos and Park as part of the elite in wolrd football, and that’s exactly what we need to win shit!!!!

Mertesacker is a top quality signing (even though some daft Spurs fan is trying to say he isn’t world class just cause he’s got nothing better to do than wind up real gooners) but, Cahill would have been excellent imo.

We need an elite player right now, make no mistake about it. A top, top player in midfield if we’re even to talk about trophies or the fucking top 4! For that to happen, we have to spend 30 to 40 million tonight! We just have to. No fucking penny pinching… Just spend some fucking money on a proven world-class player Wenger!

People keep going on about world class – look at Man U, how many actual world class players did they start with against us

De Gea, – unproven
Smalling, – nothing special
Jones, – nothing special
Evans, – average
Evra, – good but not world class
Nani – hit and miss
(Park, 68), – hard working but not world class
Cleverley, – a good youngster
Anderson – average
(Giggs, 68) – a good bit part player
Young, – good in a good team – shit at villa
Rooney, – 1 world class player
Welbeck – unproven
(Hernandez, 35) – 1 good season dont make u world class

So u dont have to have loads of world class players, they just have to be a good mix and gel well – and more importantly – want to win as a team

If its internations that play for Barca like Messi, Cesc etc etc (dnt want to drop anymore names becasue those arre the only two players I like in that chav team) then yep i agree they are world class.

I just cant understand;

1) how a german and brazilian internations ar enot considered wld class
2) That you haven’t seen Jenkins cross the ball…..

Don’t come on here very often not because of your articles but the cursing of our players and managers by so many posters on here, is not for me.
Anyway something drew my attention to today’s post .it was about Clint Dempsey. Where did that info come from.?
The reason i ask is that he is a very very close friend of my son (which i can prove) and in fact my son sees him regularly.he has just had his second child and is content at Fulham on his 20/25 K a week.I would be surprised if that rumour is nothing more than that.

But we have to at least acknowledge we are certainly finally going in the right direction. Those 3 players, are internationals, experienced, and not young prospects. To land a German International with such experience and caps is a good signing in a position we have been screaming at him to rectify! The fact that the experience in not PL is a pity.

We have also got our way, if only to a certain extent, with the players he has chosen to ship out. Denilson, Vela, Eboue, Traore, etc..Looks like Bendtner and possibly Chamakh also.. etc… (loan or sold). Loans for developement are something else. I just think we are having trouble off-loading some of them because of the deals they are on. Bendy 52k per week for example..

This window will see huge movement In and Out and that will certainly be a first. Let’s see the numbers when it closes.

And if a top name comes in today.. Well let’s just wait and see! We can talk about quality and if it’s a case of too little too late later. However, for now, things are moving in the right direction. I just hope we don’t end up with a few Honda Civics when we can afford a Bugatti Veron!

Mertsacker is a bigger risk than Cahill. Don’t understand this transfer but never mind. BTW how desperate have we become when this site is full pr1cks casting envious eyes at Tottenham’s dealings. We are officially a small club.

Mertesacker is not just a defender, he is a leader on the pitch and will organise the defence around him. We have been screaming out for leaders on the pitch and a big imposing centre half., and when we get one some peeps are giving out.
I will take a German who has 70+ caps for his national team any day of the week.
A fair amount of top centre half’s are not quick on the floor, they are quick in the mind and have positional awareness and fight to the death.

we all agree that Frimpong is raw but jenks is even rawer if at all there is such a word. his crosses are worse than you are saying and his ball handling leaves much to be desired. he cannot dribble at all. eboue could and sagna can.

however, of all the players who played in the manure debacle, he was most outstanding for me because of his attitude. he had balls. no. he has balls. he makes up with passion and heart, what he lacks or hasn’t horned in skills.

dempsey rumour could have some legs to it if chamak is going on loan for now and nikki b sold we would have a space for the target man type he has prem experiance good goal record and not a obvious signing plus fulham have had offer excepted for brian ruiz i have heared!

Can’t believe arsenal fans can be happy with benayoun and this young korean boy.Mertesecker might be decent but if yis don’t get top class in midfield yis are gonna be cut adrift.Just a non biased opinion so no abuse please.

I never said he is better than Sagna or he is proven or he is ready or he is top class.

His crossing is pretty good imo. Better than Eboue’s, Clichy’s, Theo’s, Rosicky’s to name a few.

But, yes he is a very raw player…… it doesn’t matter anyway becasue the question was “who will cross the ball for Mertesacker?” I said Jenkinson but in reality, he wont replace Sagna in our first choice first team and even if he did, the balls into the box intended for Mertesacker would more than likely be from a corner or free kick. Jenkinson will not be taking those.

This from Liverpool Kop
Another day, another selfish, overpaid footballer publicly displaying disloyalty and naked self-interest. This time, it’s Manchester City’s new signing Samir Nasri, who has rather classlessly stabbed Arsenal in the back at a time of real turmoil for the club. ”

As with many players in the world’s top leagues, when the going gets tough, the ladyboys of modern football ‘bail and bitch’. In Nasri’s case, it’s quite clear from his latest comments that he couldn’t hack the realities of life at Arsenal, which incidentally is one of Europe’s top clubs. As soon as he had to actually put some effort in to help his club through some some tough times, he bailed:

“My decision was made in June. The defeat against Birmingham in the League Cup final was very harmful for the minds…I wanted to leave after our difficult end of season”.

What an admirable attitude: he’ll gladly take tens of thousands of pounds a week to kick a ball around but as soon as things become just a little bit difficult, it’s time to leave. Clearly, Nasri’s privileged and pampered little world was in danger of collapsing as a result of losing the League Cup final.

So even making things up here and Gstar isn’t even around 😀
Sniejder hasn’t signed for United afterall and Benayoun hasn’t looks set for Spuds.

Former ESPNsoccernet writer Tom Adams on Twitter: “Keisuke Honda’s agent, Kees Ploegsma Jr tells me: ‘No, it is 100% not true[he is going to Arsenal. He is flying somewhere else to check a small knee injury.’ That’s the end of that one then.”

If we had signed Gervinho, Mertesacker, Santos, Oxlade, Jenkinson, Young THEN SOLD Cesc, nasri, Clichy, Bendtner I dont think anyone would be happy.

==========

Cesc was always going to leave and he is irreplaceable. Nasri, I would say we have replaced adequately with Gervinho. If we sign 1 or 2 other quality players before 11pm I’d say we have done okay. The big disappointment is that we should have done this 2 months earlier

As far as I can see hes sold world class players and signed kids and a few players that may be good.

That to me is strategical weakening of the team, while leaving vast sums in the bank.

He has been strategically weakening each position for the last 7 years, and i hope a few consolation signings (WAY TOO LATE) dont divert the fans attention from what is needed, a real and serious protest at the next game, sustained until there is change.

If he spends proper money today then I will give him a chance, but we all know he wont.

Whatever way you look at it we havent really solved any of our problems from last season, and we have sold our 2 best players.

I am not referring to you directly, Wardo. I just came on here and there’s loads of comments about who they are signing and how we’d be ‘gutted’ if they sign them. I wouldn’t. They can sign whoever they please but they won’t finish above us. It’s about looking up.

I’m with Geoff we brought a Korean, whoops while I shit myself with excitement, why are we not buying top quality?? Happy with the defensive signings, but we have a big hole left when ‘he who shall not be named’ left and we have not filled it.

Radio Raheem – Dempsey is from a poor family. He actually had to quit his youth club due to his families finances, so they could afford for his sister to continue a tennis path. He was only able to start again after she had a tragic death, so he worked hard at it to honor her. (there is a story out there somewhere about this)

Also I think wenger was in France putting the personel touch to a couple of the deals half our targets are from france so dont see why everybody is caining him for being in france and commentating keeps his profile up with the players ect anyway and he can scout players and get paid double bubble 😀

I’d rather us keep the money for the time being. My concern is the calibre of players we want in and if it’s not someone like Hazard, then I’d rather wait until we can get it than make do with Benayoun etc. This Park character is also a bit of a panic buy as there appeared to be no plan in signing him. Remember there’s a 25man rule so shifting deadwood will hold us back in future windows.

I’ve got a sneaky feeling we will match Spurs’ price for Cahill in the last few hours…And he’ll choose us!
Also, if we were getting M’vila or Martin L’equipe will be the first to know as they would have to leave the French training camp!

If Arsenal spend that then that is not blowing “stupid money”. It is very much neccessary.

If its not spend wisely, then thats the fault of Arsenal management. He also said all this should’ve been done much earlier to reduce the risk……..if we miss out on players cause its too late, we’re in trouble

CedarBayDave, that’s a touching story. I didn’t realise football was that far entrenched in grassroot America. I rate him as a very good footballer – one of those outside the top 4 that can make the jump to a bigger club.

Even with the top signings, most people on this blog expect a to get to a top 4 this year. So essentially IF we do finish in the top 4 we have only stood still.
Its amazing how AFC give the fans grief all summer, such that now even the most die hard fans who were aiming for the title this season will be delighted with the standstill.
I recall the posts from Geoff and Pedro early in the summer being very optimistic (or more in hope!) assuming AW will finally move for top players. As the summer wore on the fan expoectations were killed of by the board and AW, and we (including me) are now so low and desperate that even a yossi/alex/malouda seem good.

We need a creative midfielder. There is no question about that. M’Vila is defensive and I would take him because he is quality but we really need a more attacking player today.
Rosicky and Ramsey cannot carry our season.

Wardo, my point is that its not the size of the fee thats the important thing its the quality of the player. Just cos so and so costs £40million it doesn’t mean that you will get a return on the pitch. Remember Reyes?

Still on Nasir Behaviour, I read this online, it sums it up. Makes an interesting reading if you have the time.

Samir Nasri: Just another self-absorbed, money-grabbing mercenary

Another day, another selfish, overpaid footballer publicly displaying disloyalty and naked self-interest. This time, it’s Manchester City’s new signing Samir Nasri, who has rather classlessly stabbed Arsenal in the back at a time of real turmoil for the club.

As with many players in the world’s top leagues, when the going gets tough, the ladyboys of modern football ‘bail and bitch’. In Nasri’s case, it’s quite clear from his latest comments that he couldn’t hack the realities of life at Arsenal, which incidentally is one of Europe’s top clubs. As soon as he had to actually put some effort in to help the Gunner’s through some some tough times, he bailed:

“My decision was made in June. The defeat against Birmingham in the League Cup final was very harmful for the minds…I wanted to leave after our difficult end of season”.

What an admirable attitude: he’ll gladly take tens of thousands of pounds a week to kick a ball around but as soon as things become just a little bit difficult, it’s time to leave. Clearly, Nasri’s privileged and pampered little world was in danger of collapsing as a result of losing the League Cup final.

What happens if Man City go through difficulties? Will he just up and leave then as well? Of course not, because as usual, it’s all about money, and he’ll probably be too well paid to consider leaving:

“Arsenal doesn’t have the same funds. They can’t make the same coups as before in the transfer market. Today I feel like I’m in a team where I can win titles. [At Man city], there are 22 players of a very high level. In the Premier League, very few clubs can show such wealth.”

None of this is a surprise of course, it’s just further evidence of the narcissistic, egotistical culture of football – it’s no longer a team game; it’s no longer about players collectively doing their best for their clubs; it’s about milking the club for all its worth and subjugating team achievement in favour of individual success.

Footballing vampires like Nasri expect clubs to be set-up to serve their own personal ambitions; they suck as much cash and opportunity out of the system as possible, then as soon as any kind of barrier to achieving individual success materialises, they bail and bitch, and move on to the next club (as opposed to knuckling down and helping their team move forward).

Man City is definitely the right place for Nasri – it’s a club full of greedy mercenaries with no real feeling for the club.

We are still fucking around trying to tie down the Mertesaker deal which all started yesterday. Sorry fellas but I can’t see this club having the know how of trying to close down a deal in a matter of hours. Less than 11 hours to go. Please someone give me some hope?

i’ve had 2 season tickets since 1991. i’ve been lucky to see some great football over the years. until last season always been a Wenger supporter – probably what a lot of you call a fully paid up AKB’er. Well since our 4th Spring arsecave in 4 years i finally lost patience. Since May I’ve been sending a couple of emails a day to the club, criticising various elements of the team – lack of depth and investment in squad, poor coaching, poor PR, unhappy with new owner etc. I always get the usual auto-reply – ”thanks for your email blah blah blah we have sent it to the communications dept etc etc”. Well, on Monday monring in a bit of a red mist after sundays debacle I sent a zinger of a mail – saying Gazidis had lied to me in close season, saying we would be ‘busy’, and that i feel i bought my 2 season tickets under false pretences and that i was cheated out of my money, and i was sending them back, i told them they had lost me and i didn’t weant to give them any more of my money, especially at the prices they charged just to keep my money in the bank. well,,,, i’ve just got an email from the box office, they said i could have a refund on the tickets. …… calling my bluff ! i didn’t think they would give me a full refund.

so – 2 things here …… the fact they are willing to give full refunds tells me they are confident on their waiting list. 2. am i paranoid, or does it mean there is a Banner signing on the way today ?? (and btw, i couldn’t bring myself to give them back, it was an idle threat in the middle of having the raging hump about sunday)

“Emyoueffsee says:
August 31, 2011 at 12:06
Can’t believe arsenal didn’t go in for scott parker or even give hargreaves a pay per play deal.That was a no-brainer.”

I agree with you there. The problem these days is that clubs look to open new markets, Young (Korea), Miyachi (Japan).
It is as much about generating finances to compete than creating a settled competitive squad.
Would Parker or Hargreaves sell shirts in asia? no. Would they be good squad players and maybe first team regulars? when fit definitely.
Money dictates football policy these days and for a good few years to come.